LEAPS
AND BOUNDS
10 MORE POINTS ON THE PEI.
AREVISITING
PUBLIC
DISPLAY
THE FORMER
P2
JUL-SEPT’08
SUPREME COURT.P3
BREAD
AND BUTTER
SECOND BREAKFAST WITH CE.
MEASURING
UP
FLAUNTING SIRENT AT THE
P6
SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL.P7
THE NEW FACE
OF MILITARY
GROWING INTEREST TO TURN CAMPS INTO HOSTEL
T
here is a growing interest by hostel tenants to provide more
student accommodation on State properties. In 2007, of the 81
tenders launched by SLA for various uses, one of its most tendered
uses is that of hostels, which grew by more than double that in 2006.
MORE:
A different
sort of stay
100 Ulu Pandan Road.
The transformation of military camps
to students’ hostels. P4 and 5
IT JUST GETS BETTER
FACTS
FIGURES
SLA UPS PRO-ENTERPRISE RANKING FOR 3RD YEAR RUNNING
by Irene Wong
To be a world-class
land authority.
MISSION
To optimise land
resources for the economic
and social development
of Singapore.
CORE VALUES
-
-
Nation First
People Organisation
Innovation & Dynamism
Always Delighting
Customers
Integrity & Professionalism
Land is a quarterly
publication by Singapore
Land Authority (SLA),
8 Shenton Way, #26-01,
Singapore 068811.
Copyright © SLA.
All rights reserved. The
contents of Land may be
reproduced subject to
approval by SLA.
www.sla.gov.sg
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Simon Ong
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Ng Siau Yong, Gaw Seng
Suan, Wong Chooi Ling
and Susan Koh
CHIEF EDITOR
Margaret Chee
MAIN WRITERS
Violetta Wong and
Low Chiew Leng
TELL US WHAT YOU
LIKE TO READ IN LAND
Feedback and suggestion;
Subscription orders;
Address changes write
to Margaret Chee at
[email protected]
or call 63257180.
We would like to thank the
following for permission to
use their photographs:
Frank Pinckers –
Cover & P4-5
2
All paper used in the
production of this
newsletter are recycled.
Top
Three
Gainers
in four catogories
2005
2006
2007
2008
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
0
Performance index (PEI)
VISION
Pro-Enterprise Ranking Exercise –
Performance Comparison
(2005-2008)
Through three
consecutive
years
TOP 15
in ranking
Overall Mean
SLA
S
LA attained a Pro-Enterprise
Index (PEI) of 73.77 in the
2008 Government-wide PE
Ranking (PER) exercise, a
10 point increase compared to 2007’s
PEI of 63.76. This is also the 3rd
consecutive year where SLA has leapt
in the ranking to emerge top 15 this
year. In four categories, SLA was also
named top three gainers.
SLA has shown improvements
in all five PE components, with Com-
pliance Cost and Transparency as the
best performing components for SLA
for the past five years.
Since 2004, the Ministry of Trade
and Industry (MTI) has been conducting the annual PER exercise, with the
objective of measuring and improving
the effectiveness of current government
initiatives to build a pro-enterprise
regulatory environment in Singapore.
A total of 26 government agencies
participated in the 2008 PER exercise.
SLA’s improvement is largely attributed to our commitment to service
excellence. Through the PER exercise
and various engagement platforms
such as dialogue sessions, we have
gained better insights in customer
needs, and we developed initiatives
and enhanced our work processes to
serve our customers better. Being a
young organisation, SLA has also learnt
from the agencies that functions have
done well in the PER exercise and
adapt the learning points to improve
our practices across all functions.
We thank all customers who
had participated in the 2008 PER
exercise, and the valuable feedback
which will help SLA to continuously
improve ourselves to serve our customers better.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BETTER SEARCH AND DISPLAY AT SLA’S CORPORATE WEBSITE
By Veronica Lim Mui Heah
I
n June 08, SLA subscribed to the Government
Interactive Frequently Asked Questions (Gov
iFAQ), a central online portal that allows intelligent search of information across the public sector.
The enhancements began first with in-depth analysis
and review of enquiries made via various customer
channels, and then incorporating findings into the
new system. With the extensive FAQ online, users
no longer need to call the enquiry hotline.
The improvements include grouping FAQs
into two categories – services and sub topics. Upon
clicking “FAQ on SLA”, users will be greeted with
the Top 5 Most Popular questions. Similarly, by clicking on the respective service eg. “Requisition of Land
Information”, the Top 5 Most Popular FAQs for that
service is shown. This is coupled with the “collapse
WE’RE
MOVING
all” and “expand all” functionality that allows for easy
browsing as the pages are not cluttered with both
questions and answers.
In addition, the iFAQ search function looks for
keywords in attachments eg. MS Word, MS Excel
etc. In the near future, users may further specify if
they want to conduct the search under:
(i) “Local” (SLA corporate website),
(ii) “Whole of Government” or
(iii) “Cluster” (Government agencies with related
services and functions).
Users can now locate information on other
Government agencies sites easily. For users who are
unsure of the Government Searches they are also better acquainted with which agency to make enquiries.
SLA will be relocating from 8 Shenton Way to 55 Newton Road #12-01, Revenue House,
Singapore 307987. We will be closed for business from 5pm on Friday, 21 November
2008 and will re-open on Monday, 24 November 2008 at 8.30am. Starting from Sartuday,
22 November 2008, SLA will also cease to operate its Customer Service Centre on
Saturdays. Please visit us at our Customer Service Centre from Mondays to Fridays,
8.30am to 5.30pm.
FAIR
7 STATE
PROPERTIES FOR
FOREIGN SYSTEM
SCHOOLS
SQUARE
by Violetta Wong
Getting a first hand look at the grand architecture of the former Supreme Court.
PRESERVING HERITAGE
PLAYING OUR PART IN SAL’S LEGAL HERITAGE TOUR
Upper Serangoon Secondary School.
by Margaret Chee
I
n celebration of its 20th Anniversary, the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) approached
SLA to be its supporting partner in the use of the former Supreme Court, for its Legal
Heritage Tour. SLA gladly lent our corporate social responsibility and role in sponsoring
part of its utilities expenses. SAL is a not-for-profit and tax exempted institution
approved under the Charities Act.
Members of the public and school community were given the rare opportunity to revisit
the uses of the former Supreme Court, its prisons cell, courtrooms, Chief Justice’s office and
the court of appeal, and admire the grandiose and architecture of heritage State buildings.
The series of Legal Heritage Tour was held from 26 June to 2 August 2008.
TWO TO WATCH
by Margaret Chee
FORMER CHANGI CAMP ATTRACTS HIGH BIDS:
NOS 33 & 42 HENDON ROAD
BIG TURN-OUT AT
SLA AUCTION
The former Changi camp with
approved use as hotel attracted a total of five bidders.
The highest bidder is Fragrance Hotel Management,
which entered a bid that was
about four times higher than the guide rental.
This property with land area of 9,666
square metres (sqm), and a gross floor area
(GFA) of 5,097 sqm, comprises two blocks of
three storey buildings and a covered shed.
The tenancy is for an initial term of three years
and is renewable on terms up to 2018. The
guide rental is $28,500 per month. The tender
is under evaluation and the expected date of
award is end November this year.
On 21 August 2008, about 200
thronged the auction room at M
Hotel with about 50 individuals
and private companies registering
to bid for the 2nd auction of residential sites. The sites with fresh 99-year
leases were launched on 26 June
2008, with some within prime residential areas such as Holland Road
and Carmichael Road.
One of the top bids came from the
Ridout Road parcel within the GCB
area. It went to BreadTalk founder,
George Quek and his wife. The day
closed with total bids amounting to
$13.8 million for the four sites.
As a key member of a Government Committee that is inviting proposals under Requestfor-Interest (RFI) to set up Foreign System
Schools (FSS), SLA has identified seven
State buildings and land parcels, namely,
four “Brownfield” (existing vacant school
buildings) and three “Greenfield” (existing
vacant land) sites.
The sites were selected based on locality,
convenience, availability, space and ease of
adaptability. Some of the sites include the
former Upper Serangoon Secondary School
at 279 Upper Serangoon Road; the former
Nan Chiau High School at 46 Kim Yam Road,
and the former Fuchun Primary School at 29
Woodlands Centre Road.
There has been strong response from
schools who have submitted their proposals
at closing on 19 September 2008. The Committee comprising EDB and SLA, will assess
the proposals and short-listed schools
will be notified for interviews in end September 2008.
“ SLA recognises that FSS are an
important infrastructure to attract
global talents to live and work
in Singapore. Adapting former
vacant schools for use as FSS not
only optimises land resources,
it also provides immediate
solutions to cater to the growing
demand since they are purposebuilt with playfields and other
ancillary facilities.”
TEO CHER HIAN
Director, SLA’s Land Operations (Private) Division
3
REUSE
RENEW
Outdoor facilities at 100 Ulu Pandan Road.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
By Violetta Wong
“We chose this site at Ulu Pandan as it is set in a prime location
nearby established tertiary institutions. We have transformed
the place into a full facility student hostel. In addition to
providing safe, conducive living units for the students to stay,
facilities such as state-of-the-art gym, entertainment room,
reading lounge, futsal court, tennis court, touch rugby field,
dance studio, multi purpose room, jogging track, minimart
and cafeteria made available to meet the students’ basic
and leisure needs.”
ANDY LOW
General Manager, EM Services
4
Another transformation project
at Jalan Bahar.
100 Ulu Pandan Road military camp
before its transformation.
A
nyone who has driven past 100 Ulu
Pandan Road opposite Pandan Valley condominium, would be impressed by the drastic transformation of the
former army camp School of Military Medicine, into a cosy students’ hostel.
The former camp with land area of
44,633 sqm was awarded to EM Services,
after attracting an impressive seven bids at
tender opening. EM Services put in a top bid
of 60 per cent more than the guide rental.
The property comprises six blocks of three
storey buildings, 10 blocks of single-storey
“We chose Jalan Bahar because they are unique in a way that
the units came retrofitted with a self-contained kitchen, toilet
and living room, which offers privacy to the students. We liked
the ease of adapting the property and invested about seven
million dollars. The occupancy rate for Jalan Bahar is 70 per cent.”
YANG TSE PIN
Managing Director, Jian Yu Construction
buildings and four single-storey open sheds
and one block of sub-station building.
The tenancy is renewable on terms up to 2017.
EM Services has since inked a deal with Singapore Institute of Management to take up
the hostel space.
Besides the former Ulu Pandan camp,
SLA had also awarded the former SCDF
Camp in Jalan Bahar to Jian Yu Construction
also for students’ hostel use. It has an estimated land area of 56,631.4 sqm and a GFA
of 29,343.3 sqm. Located near NTU, it has
attracted NTU students.
For more information on State properties available for rent, please visit SLA’s
State Property and Information Online (SPIO)
web portal (http://www.spio.sla.gov.sg),
or call the SPIO hotline at 6323 9154.
View from the top: The new SMU hostel at 100 Ulu Pandan Road.
5
INSURE
ENSURE
BREAKFAST WITH CE
LISTENING TO TENANTS IS SLA’S BUSINESS
by Margaret Chee
SLA PILOTS
MASTER
INSURANCE
SCHEME
by Lim Peck Buay
Tenants of State-owned properties
are currently, required to procure
insurance covers specified under
the respective tenancy agreements
entered with the State.
To provide value-added service
options to our customers, SLA has
collaborated with Willis (Singapore)
and MSIG Insurance (Singapore) on
a pilot project to develop a comprehensive insurance program and open
to all commercial tenants to meet
with insurance requirements, on an
opt-out basis.
Implemented on 21 July 2008,
this insurance policy – Building Plus
– is a Fire and Extra Perils Insurance,
structured to meet with the insurance requirements specified in the
tenancy agreement. Through this
scheme, SLA hopes to provide more
choice options to the State’s commercial tenants with a convenient
insurance arrangement at competitive premium rates.
Tenants whose existing insurance policy is due for renewal will
also receive a renewal letter giving
two weeks to opt out. If the tenant
indicate interest or does not respond
to the renewal letter, Willis will contact
the tenant to obtain details to offer
Building Plus. Tenants who opt-out
or do not wish to take up the offer
will be required to furnish SLA with
their alternative insurance policy that
meets with the requirements specified
under the tenancy requirement.
SLA hopes that our tenants will
give due consideration and support
to this available insurance program
during its pilot run.
6
A
s part of the ongoing efforts by
SLA to listen to tenants’ issues and
challenges while renting State
properties and faring better on
their feedback, SLA held the second of a
series of four “SLA CE breakfast with tenants”
or networking sessions with SLA’s master
tenants on 4 July 2008. Five master tenants
of State properties for education use, such as
EtonHouse International School, James Cook
University and Kids Central, met the Chief
Executive of SLA, Lam Joon Khoi and its
senior management.
SLA has seen interest for the education
going strong through two ways, first, in the
bids received for properties with school as one
of the allowable uses. Second, more State
properties are being tenanted for education
use. About 25% of our public tenders offered
have education-related uses. Education-related sector is the most tendered category.
Of the properties tendered last year, about 50%
were awarded with education related use.
EASB Institute of Management, who set
up the Queen Margaret University Asia Campus at the former Lee Kuo Chuan Primary
school at 9 Ah Hood Road, is represented by
CE with master tenants from the education sector.
“This is part of our ongoing
effort to develop a closer
partnership with our tenants
before, during and after a
success tender of a property.
SLA endeavours to coordinate
the common issues and
bring a collective solution
by technical agencies.
Ultimately, we hope to
improve the processes
and make it a more pleasant
experience to take up State
properties for our tenants.”
LAM JOON KHOI
CE, SLA
its Executive Director, Er Kwong Wah, former
Permanent Secretary of MOE and MCYS.
Er commended SLA for proactively engaging
partners and listening to feedback.
SLA aims to hold one session every
quarter with master tenants of different business sectors from office, commercial, education
to hospitality and lifestyle.
SHOW
TELL
SPATIAL
CONNECTIONS
SLA DELEGATION AT MAP ASIA 2008
By Low Chiew Leng
O
fficers from SLA attended the
Map Asia 2008 conference in
Kuala Lumpur from 18-20
August 2008 to learn more
about mapping, geographic information
systems, and the intricacies of conferenceorganisation. The latter is to prepare SLA
for its own role as co-organiser of Map Asia
2009 together with GIS Development, which
will be held for the first time in Singapore.
Map Asia is an annual conference
that brings together spatial information
professionals in the region and provides
a platform for participants to exchange
knowledge, insights and new technology
in the GIS and mapping industry. At the
conference, 30 seminars, 40 technical sessions were held and more than 50 exhibitors
presented their technologies and applications. The SLA delegation benefited from
the event organisation, contents, sharing of
GIS trends at the conference, which would
help SLA in its plans to build its own Spatial
Data Infrastructure.
SLA officers at the Map Asia 2008 conference held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Other than Map Asia 2009, Singapore
will also be hosting PCGIAP 2010, a biannual forum for nations from Asia and
the Pacific to cooperate in the development
of a regional geographic information infra-
structure, and GSDI 2010, an annual conference to promote cooperation and collaboration on local, national and international
spatial data infrastructure developments.
GO GREEN WITH SIRENT
SIRENT BLOOMS AT SINGAPORE
GARDEN FESTIVAL 2008
by Low Chiew Leng
The Singapore Satellite Positioning Reference Network
(SiReNT) team from SLA’s Survey Services were
invited to set up an exhibition booth at the Singapore
Garden Festival in August 2008. SiReNT is a differential
global positioning system (DGPS) that provides measurements with millimetre accuracy. It is an essential
tool in forestry management and asset book-keeping.
Each shrub along the landscaping can be tagged with
precise positioning and SiReNT makes accessibility a
breeze in the park, or woods and forest for that matter.
So if you’re looking for an effective way to manage your
assets with precision, contact SLA’s SiReNT team for a
free trial!
SLA’s booth at the Singapore Garden Festival.
7
MEET
GREET
01
02
04
03
WELCOME
TO SLA
In the third quarter of 2008, we warmly
welcomed the Hong Kong Permanent
Secretary for Development, Raymond
Young Lap Moon and his delegates,
who visited SLA on 18 July.
They were hosted by DCE and were
briefed on Land Sales and the management of State land and buildings.
We also hosted visitors from Lagos,
Nigeria on 17 July; University of Melbourne, 21 July; two visits from the City
Planning & Construction of Kunming
Province, on 29 August and 23 September respectively; Vietnam on 2 September; and Cambodia on 23 September.
8
05
06
07
01 Bode Agoro, Director of Land Regularisation & Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor, Nigeria, with SLA staff.
02 Delegation from Kunming Urban Planning
and Development Training Group.
03 Hong Kong Permanent Secretary for
Development (Planning & Lands),
Raymond Young and his delegates.
04 Vietnamese Officials on their third Urban
Development Training Programme.
05 City Planning & Construction of Kunming
Province delegation.
06 Visitors from the University of Melbourne.
07 Chief Surveyor presents a souvenir to
His Excellency Lim Voan, from the
General Department of Cadastre and
Geography, Cambodia.